Crooked old timber buildings once lined Fleet Street, which was also the alleged stomping ground of a gang of 18th-century ne’er-do-wells called the Mohocks. Hard evidence is admittedly sparse, but these well-born thugs reputedly attacked men and sexually assaulted women, prompting authorities to put up a £100 bounty for information leading to their capture. According to the correspondence of Lady Wentworth: “They put an old woman into a hogshead, and rolled her down a hill; they cut off some noses, others’ hands, and several barbarous tricks, without any provocation. They are said to be young gentlemen; they never take any money from any.”